LOWVILLE — Students in the Regional High School Summer Theatre Workshop here will present the musical “Willy Wonka” in the auditorium of Lowville Academy and Central School at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The workshop is open to students in grades 9 through 12 in all Lewis County high schools as well as Adirondack and Carthage Central Schools. This year’s performance of “Willy Wonka” will feature students from Copenhagen and Carthage Central Schools, as well as Lowville Academy and Central School.

The musical, with lyrics by Anthony Newley and music by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with four other children from around the world.

Tommy Johnson plays the role of Willy Wonka, Adam Roes is Charlie Bucket, Nicole Adsit is Veruca Salt, Emily Segraves plays Augusta Sloop, Elizabeth Kelly stars as Violet Beaureguarde and Dustin Shanley portrays Mike Teavee.

Other students in the production: Dan Austin, Christine Pisaniello, Kristen Beyer, Ally Beehm, Laura Graves, Alanna Granger, Emily Sipher, Zach Allen, Nikayah Souva, Cheyanne Merry, Hannah Gebo, Menena Allen, Teya Baldwin and Taylor Giver.

“Willy Wonka” is directed by Penny S. Jay and Cynthia C. Graves, a seasoned team of directors of local youth theatre. They have worked together for several summers with the annual youth Superstage productions open to students in grades 3 through 8. Each has worked with teens in high school musical productions in their respective school districts. Mrs. Jay has taught and served as music department chairwoman at Lowville Academy and Central School for more than 25 years. Mrs. Graves is a member of the faculty at Copenhagen Central School and has been involved with theater productions for several years.

The Summer Theatre Workshop is sponsored by Mountain View Prevention Services, The YEAH! Community Coalition, Pratt Northam Foundation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Lewis County Youth Bureau, The Youth Advisory Council of LACS, Lowville Elks Lodge, and Stewarts’ Stores Holiday Fund.

This year’s Lewis County Super Stage groups also have been hard at work. They have been rehearsing “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” in Lowville and “Let Your Hair Down Rapunzel” in South Lewis Central School District.

“You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” will feature a cast of grade 3 to grade 8 students as the iconic Peanuts characters. Musical numbers include “The Baseball Game”, “Beethoven Day”, and “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown.” The play is directed by Mrs. Jay and Mrs. Graves with the help of Rachel Nortz, Ashley Doney, Tommy Johnson and Nicole Adsit. It will be performed at 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 2 in the Lowville Academy auditorium.

“Let your Hair Down Rapunzel” also features an elementary and middle school cast in a comedic retelling of the classic Rapunzel fairy tale. Musical numbers include “I’ve Always Dreamed (Be A Hero),” “Just Because You’re Different” and “Let Your Hair Down.”

“Rapunzel” is directed by Ryan Fitzgerald and Todd Galarneau with the help of Rachel Nortz and Ashley Doney and will be performed in the South Lewis High School auditorium at 1 and 7 p.m. Aug. 1.

All three musicals are free of charge.

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